A new study provides some of the strongest evidence yet that using an antidepressant like Prozac, Paxil or Zoloft during the final two trimesters of pregnancy may be linked to a higher risk of autism spectrum disorder for the child.
A group of special needs children with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and developmental delays such as autism traveled to Avellanas, in the province of Guanacaste, Saturday to enjoy, some for the first time, a day at the beach.
The phrase “We’re not autistic,” which I used during an interview I gave to a journalist when speaking of dangerous budget cuts, is commonly used when speaking of politics in Costa Rica. To cite that phrase out of context and somehow associate its use with a lack of sensitivity on my part towards those with autism or any other disability would be a serious mistake.
Recently, Patricia Mora, legislator for the Broad Font Party, stated in the Costa Rican daily La Naciόn – as a way of deflecting criticism – that members of her party “aren’t autistic.” She doesn’t understand that people with autism and their families have to fight each and every day to be included in our society. She doesn’t understand that autistic people are incredible human beings, who, unlike most other people, don’t even know what evil and hypocrisy are.
On the surface, Madrigal seems a traditional Tica mother. However, her extraordinary drive and energy have also expanded her impact far beyond her own family, and she has become a spokeswoman for families with special needs.
